Onion peeler

ABSTRACT

Sharp abrasive particles are glued to an area near the base of an elongated rubber fingertip which has raised projections between the closed end of the tip and the sharp particles. The sharp particles gouge ends of skin out of the onion, which are rubbed and stripped off by the projections. This operation is preferably performed under water to suppress annoying juices and odors.

United States Patent 91 [111 353mm Gerson [4 1 May 22, 1973 54] ONION PEELER 1,423,543 7 1922 Sautter ..2/l6l x [75] Inventor: Samuel L. Germ, Wilmington e 1,979,130 10/1934 Wiley ..l46/203 X [73] Assignee: Restaurant Equipment Design (30., Primary Examinerwillie Abefcl'ombie Wilmington, Del. Att0rneyArthur G. Connolly et al.

[22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 57 ABSTRACT PP 186,850 Sharp abrasive particles are glued to an area near the base of an elongated rubber fingertip which has raised projections between the closed end of the tip and the [if] 51 sharp particles The Sharp particles g g ends of skin 1 I? j I out of the onion are rubbed and Str pped off Fleld of Search R, the projections. operation is p f y p 2/161 168 formed under water to suppress annoying juices and odors.

[56] References Cited 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ONION PEELER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Onions are particularly difficult to skin and peel because of the tightness of their skin and the undesirable odors and juices which they emit. It is not believed that there are any existing simple, economical and efficient devices for peeling onions. An object of this invention is to provide such a device.

SUMMARY A small area at the base of a tubular finger sheath is covered with sharp abrasive particles and the rest of the sheath between the particles and the outer end carries raised projections, such as a row of molded ribs. The outer end of the sheath may be closed and it may be flexible to facilitate snug engagement over the end of the users finger. The sharp particles gouge out free ends from the skin which are rubbed and stripped off by the projections. This is preferably performed under water to suppress annoying odors and juices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of this device being used to peel an onion;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left end view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 2 along the line 5-5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. l-5, is shown an onion peeling device including a flexible tubular sheath l2 snugly fitting about the users finger 14, such as his thumb. Thumb 14 is inserted within open end 16 of device 10 and outer closed end 18 is molded integrally with sheath 12 to facilitate engagement by thumb 14 or any other finger which may be more convenient for the user. The main body of device 10 is therefore somewhat like a stranded fingertip utilized for counting or flipping stacks of paper, but it is relatively longer and thus preferably covers a substantial portion of the finger in addition to the outer tip to accommodate the functional areas which are later described.

FIGS. 3-5 show the disposition of sharp particles 20 within circular area 22 near the base or open end 16 of device 10, which is reinforced by a circular flange 24. Area 22 may be any shape of regular or irregular form. A series of projections, for example four raised ribs 26, extend from sharp particles 20 toward closed end 18 of device 10. Ribs 26 may be of any shape or disposition which facilitate rubbing and stripping off the gouged out ends of the skin 28 of onion 30 as'later described.

The body of device 10 is for example made of flexible rubber, such as pure gum rubber, to facilitate retention on the users finger and rubbing and stripping off of skin ends 28 during the peeling of the onion 30.

Sharp particles 20 are for example sharp silicon carbide crystals of a grit size having a nominal dimension of approximately 1/16 inch. Such crystals are designated No. 16 grit. They are securely attached to sheath 12 by glue, for example an epoxy-type glue having two constituents. When these constituents are mixed, the crystals are permanently bonded thereby to the portion of the sheath to which the glue is applied.

Onion 30 is peeled as generally shown in FIG. 1 by first gouging the sharp particles into the surface of the onion skin to raise short shreds or ends 28 of the skin from the surface. Projections 26 are then rubbed across shreds 28 to raise them outwardly after which they are stripped off the onion. This makes it very easy to completely peel the onion in a very short time with very little effort of skill and with very little waste of parts of the onion immediately under the skin. This operation is preferably performed under water such as in a pan or under a running faucet to suppress annoying odors and tear-stimulating juices.

I claim:

1. An onion peeling device comprising a tubular sheath having an inner space within which a finger of a user is inserted, said sheath having an open end at its base through which said finger is inserted, a portion of said sheath adjacent said open end having an area to which sharp particles are attached for gouging ends of skin ofi the onion, projections on the portion of said sheath between said sharp particles and the other end of said sheath whereby said ends of onion skin are rubbed and stripped off from said onion.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other end of said sheath is closed to facilitate retention on said finger and said sheath is elongated enough to extend well past a joint of said finger.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sharp particles are carbide particles.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sharp particles are silicon carbide.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sharp particles have about a l/16 inch nominal dimension.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projections are a row of longitudinal ribs.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular sheath is flexible.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tubular sheath is rubber.

9. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the base end of said sheath is reinforced by a flange.

10. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheath is flexible and elongated, the other end of said sheath being closed to facilitate retention on said finger, said sharp particles being carbide particles having about a l/ 16 inch nominal dimension, and said projections being a row of ribs molded into the surface of said sheath. 

1. An onion peeling device comprising a tubular sheath having an inner space within which a finger of a user is inserted, said sheath having an open end at its base through which said finger is inserted, a portion of said sheath adjacent said open end having an area to which sharp particles are attached for gouging ends of skin off the onion, projections on the portion of said sheath between said sharp particles and the other end of said sheath whereby said ends of onion skin are rubbed and stripped off from said onion.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other end of said sheath is closed to facilitate retention on said finger and said sheath is elongated enough to extend well past a joint of said finger.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sharp particles are carbide particles.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sharp particles are silicon carbide.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sharp particles have about a 1/16 inch nominal dimension.
 6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projections are a row of longitudinal ribs.
 7. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubular sheath is flexible.
 8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tubular sheath is rubber.
 9. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the base end of said sheath is reinforced by a flange.
 10. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheath is flexible and elongated, the other end of said sheath being closed to facilitate retention on said finger, said sharp particles being carbide particles having about a 1/16 inch nominal dimension, and said projections being a row of ribs molded into the surface of said sheath. 